Read Next

Hungary, one of Europe’s least LGBT+ supportive countries, has dropped the ban on gay and bi men giving blood.

Now both gay and bisexual men may donate blood if their sexual behavior is not otherwise considered risky. And the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service says it has chosen to ‘eliminate’ the ‘discrimination’.

The surprise change in policy comes as Hungary’s government abuses the coronavirus pandemic to stop trans people changing gender.

The new blood donation policy has just come to light after the National Blood Transfusion Service published it in mid-April. Furthermore, in their statement they backdated the policy saying it started on 1 January 2020.

It is not, therefore, clear if the change in heart was due to fears around coronavirus. Both the US and Australia have dialled down their gay blood bans amid falling donations during the pandemic.

In their statement the National Blood Transfusion Service says:

‘All discrimination based on the gender of the participants in the assessment of sexual relationships that are risky for transmission is eliminated.’

‘Fighting for years’

The Háttér Society, the largest and oldest LGBT+ organization in Hungary, welcomed the news.

The campaigners point out that gay male sex is not necessarily more risky for HIV. In a statement they said:

‘The Háttér Society has been fighting for years to stop the stigmatization and complete exclusion of a group of people [men who have sex with men] from blood donation.

‘A gay couple in a monogamous relationship, especially if they protect themselves against HIV by condoms or PrEP, is not more at risk than a heterosexual couple.

‘The risk of transmission of non-penetrative sexual encounters between men is much lower than that of a heterosexual contact involving vaginal penetration.’

Hungary’s government currently attacking trans rights

Hungary offers LGBT+ people some rights and protections. Gay sex is legal, and there are anti-discrimination laws in place.